Amethyst: Properties, Colors, Meaning, Birthstone, Healing Properties,

The mesmerizing purple hue of amethyst is just one reason why it is a favorite among many people. This gemstone possesses metaphysical, physical and emotional healing properties that can enhance your well-being and strengthen your spiritual connection.

Here, we'll dive deeper into amethyst's physical properties, variations of amethyst and how you can use this gem in your daily life.

What Is Amethyst?

Amethyst: Properties, Colors, Meaning, Birthstone, Healing Properties, and Jewelry

Amethyst is a semi-precious gem that is part of the quartz family. This stone is known for its enchanting purple hues and is comprised of oxygen, silica minerals and bits of iron, which lend to its distinctive color.

Amethyst has remained a popular gemstone for thousands of years. In ancient Greece, amethyst was used to carve large drinking vessels for water and wine. Roman women believed that wearing amethyst would inspire fidelity from their partners.

Amethyst Properties

Amethyst forms within the Earth's crust from quartz, which is one of the planet's most common minerals. When gas bubbles become entrapped in lava, it creates cavities where crystals may grow. This process is quite lengthy and can take millions of years.

Amethysts form within geodes. Geodes are hollow rocks that contain crystals on the inside. Although most geodes contain clear quartz, others contain purple amethyst.

Although amethyst is typically a purple to deep violet hue, it can also range from paler to darker shades. Its crystal structure is hexagonal and has six sides.

Amethyst registers at a 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, which means it's fairly durable and is appropriate to wear as jewelry. It is durable, resistant to scratching and can withstand moderate wear and tear.

Amethyst does not have distinct cleavage and will not break along any specific direction or plane.

Amethyst can vary in transparency. Some specimens may be translucent or even opaque, depending on their quality. The luster is glassy, giving it a shiny appearance. It is slightly denser than water, with a specific gravity of 2.65.

The refractive index of any gemstone refers to the specific point at which light will bend when it shines through the stone. The refractive index ranges of amethyst ranges between 1.54 and 1.55.

Amethyst Colors

What color is amethyst? While most amethyst specimens typically feature purple hues, sometimes variants of different colors naturally occur.

1. Purple Amethyst

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Purple is the color most associated with amethyst, ranging from light lilac to dark violet. Sometimes, purple amethyst may have a slight brownish tint, and the precise hue is determined by the amount of iron within the crystal structure.

Amethysts featuring saturated shades of deep purple are more desirable and highly sought after.

2. Green Amethyst

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It is difficult to find naturally green amethyst. Sometimes, green-hued quartz is artificially constructed by adding nickel and iron into the specimen. This process creates the appearance of a green amethyst.

There is another green gemstone closely related to amethyst called prasiolite. It is extremely scarce in nature and is only found in parts of Poland and Brazil. Artificial specimens can be produced by heat-treating genuine amethyst to manipulate its shade.

Although most amethyst will turn orange or yellow when exposed to heat, some will turn a green hue.

3. Pink Amethyst

Pink amethyst is rare and is naturally found in Brazil, Russia, Uruguay and the United States. It forms similarly to other amethysts, and the process occurs when silicon dioxide mixes with trace amounts of iron.

While larger amounts of iron give amethyst its characteristic purple hue, small quantities of pink amethyst result in its paler coloring.

How Valuable Is Pink Amethyst?

Because pink amethyst is rarer than purple amethyst, it tends to cost more. The more uniform and saturated the color, the more valuable these specimens are.

Pink amethyst stones with vibrant hues and transparency range from $10-$100 per carat, with growing demand boosting prices.

Where Is Amethyst Found?

Amethyst is found worldwide, with notable sources including Brazil, Uruguay, Zambia, and Madagascar, which are known for their high-quality deposits. Other locations include Russia, India, and the United States (e.g., Arizona and North Carolina).

Amethyst Birthstone

A birthstone is a gem associated with the month you are born. Some cultures believe birthstones may bestow luck or healing powers to the person who wears them.

Amethyst is the primary birthstone for February. This stone carries great significance throughout the world in various cultures, religions and legends.

One legend states that St. Valentine (the patron saint of lovers) sported an amethyst ring engraved with a picture of Cupid, which may be why it is associated with love, Valentine's Day and the month of February.

Amethyst Benefits

What is amethyst good for? Here is a short summary.

Spiritual growth: Enhances meditation, intuition, and connection to higher consciousness.
Focus and clarity: Supports mental clarity and decision-making.
Emotional balance: Promotes calmness, stress relief, and emotional stability.
Protective energy: Associated with warding off negative energy and fostering positivity.

Amethyst Meaning

What does amethyst mean spiritually? Amethyst is strongly connected to spirituality and can promote clarity and insight, especially during challenging times.

This gemstone is usually associated with the Crown and Third Eye chakras, which promote heightened intuition, spiritual growth and a deeper, more intense connection to the higher conscious.

As you activate these chakras, amethyst invites spiritual energy, heightening your awareness and encouraging a deeper connection to your beliefs. Many cultures believe that amethyst is a powerful tool for those who desire spiritual growth.

In addition, amethyst is a powerful spiritual protector, which can be helpful for those who engage in crystal healing and meditation. This gemstone protects your spiritual energy from being infiltrated by darker energy, even as you engage in intensive crystal healing sessions. It provides a sense of calmness that is perfect for incorporating into your healing space or bedroom.

If you're struggling with negative energy or are trying to become more connected to your spiritual side, amethyst can help you open up to this process.

Amethyst Healing Properties

Amethyst is widely believed to have strong emotional and physical healing properties, making it a favorite gemstone among many.

People channel this stone's power by wearing amethyst jewelry, carrying a small crystal in their pockets or placing amethyst pieces throughout their homes.

Mental Healing Properties

With its soothing range of hues, amethyst can promote a sense of calmness, which is helpful for those experiencing a great deal of anxiety and stress. It can rid your mind of negative thoughts while promoting mental focus and alertness, making it easier to approach difficult decisions with clarity. It enhances emotional stability, strengthens inner resolve during difficult times and encourages healthier sleep patterns.

Some believe that amethyst represents the purity of spirit and can provide peace and clarity while healing the mind from depression and mental anguish. Amethyst attracts positive energy and helps keep you grounded, making you feel more secure when experiencing distress from intense emotions.

Amethyst is a popular gemstone that facilitates positive personal transformation and is useful for those trying to lead a clean and sober lifestyle. Energy healers believe that amethyst can help promote sobriety and abstinence from harmful substances by relieving stress and easing cravings and triggers.

Physical Healing Properties

In addition to providing various emotional and mental health benefits, alternative and complementary medicine practitioners also believe that amethysts can improve physical health.

Amethyst may be able to strengthen the immune system, enhance endocrine functioning and promote healthier-looking skin. In addition, it may reduce headaches, regulate hormones and promote digestive health.

Note: While gemstones like amethyst are admired for their beauty and symbolic meanings, there is no scientific evidence to support claims of healing properties.

Amethyst Price: Is an Amethyst Stone Worth Anything?

How much is amethyst worth? The price range of amethyst usually runs between $20 to $50 per carat. Color is the most critical factor in influencing its final price.

That being said, what amethyst is worth depends highly on the grade of the individual specimen. The grade is determined by clarity and color, with cut and carat having less of an impact.